phisitioÌ„ that is ignorant in the bokes of law Astronomie and Phisicke How can any man theÌ„ say that he professeth Christ and his religion The wyl not applye him selfe as far forth as he can or may conueniently to reade heare so to know the bokes of Christes gospel doctrine Although other sciences be good to be learned gods 〈◊〉 excelleth 〈◊〉 sciences yet no man can deny but this is the chiefe passeth all other incoÌ„parably What excuse shall we therfore make at the last day before Christ that delight to reade or heare mens phantasies and inuenâ—ions more then his moste holy ghospell wyl fynde no time to do that which chiefely aboue all â—â—â—â—ges we shoulde do wyl rather reade other 〈…〉 their that for the which we ought rather 〈…〉 â—â—â—ding of all other thinges Let vs therefore applye our selues as farre fourth as we can haue time leisure to knowe Gods word â—aine exenses dissâ—abynge â—rom the knowledge of goddes wordâ— The first by diligent hearing and readyng therof as many as professe God and haue faith trust in him But they that haue no good affection to Gods worde to colour this there fault alleage coÌ„monly two vayne sayned excuses Some go about to excuse them by their owne frailenes fearefulnes saying that they dare not reade holy scripture â–ª leaft through their ignorasice they should fal into any error The soeâ—â—â— Other pretend that the difficultie to vnderstand it the hardnes therof is so great that it is meete to be read onely of clerkes learned men As touching the first ignoraunce of Gods word is the cause of all error as Christ him selfe affirmed to the Saduceis saying that they erred because they knewe not the scripture 〈◊〉 xxii How should they then eschue error that wil be styl ignoraunt And how should they come out of ignoraunce that wyll not reade nor heare that thyng which should geue theÌ„ knowledge He that now hath most knowledge was at the first ignorauÌ„t yet he forbare not to reade for feare he shuld sal into error but he diligently read least he shuld remaine in ignoraunce through ignoraunce in error And if you wil not know the trueth of God a thing most necessary for you least you fall into error by the same reason you may then lye styll neuer goe least if you go you fall in the mire nor eate any good meate least you take a surfeit nor sowe your come nor labour in your occupacion nor vse your merchauÌ„dize for feare you lose your sede your labour your stoâ—ke so by that reason it shoulde be best for you to lyue â—oeâ—â—y neuer to take in hand to do any maner of good thing least ê‘eraduenture some euyl thing may chaunce therof And yt you be afrayde to fal into error by readyng of holy scripture 〈…〉 câ—â—â—â—â—â—â—usty 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 peryll the holy scripeture is 〈◊〉 be read â–ª I shall she we you how you may reade it without daunger of error Reade it humbly with a meke a lowly heart to thintent you may gloryfye God not your selfe with the knowledge of it reade it not without daily praging to God that he would direct your readyng to good effect take vpon you to expounde it no further then you can plainely vnderstand it For as S. Augustine saith the knowledge of holy scripture is a great large a high palace but the dore is very low so that the high arrogant man can not run in but he must stowpe lowe and humble him selfe that shall enter into it Presumption arrogancy is the mother of all error humilitie nedeth to feare no error For humilitie wyl onely search to know the truth it wyl search and wyll bryng together one place with an other where it caÌ„ not find out the meaning it wyl pray it wil aske of other that know wyl not prestriupteously rashely define any thing whiche it knoweth not Therefore the humble man may searche any trueth boldly in the scripture without any daunger of error And if he be ignoraunt he ought the more to reade to search holy scripture to bryng hym out of ignoraunce I say not nay but a man may prosper with only hearing but he maiâ—â—â—â—â— more prosper with both hearing reading This haue I saide as touching the feare to â—â—ade thâ—â—ough ignoraunce of the person And â—onu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hardenesse of Scripture â—â—râ—yture in some â—laces is â—asy and 〈◊〉 some â—laces 〈◊〉 to be â—â—derâ—â—aÌ„d he that is so weake that he is not able to broke stronge meate yet he may sucke the swete and tender milâ—e and diâ—â—erre the rest vntyl he waxe stronger and come to more knowledge For god receaueth the learned and vnlearned and casteth away none but is indifferent vnto all And the scripture is full aswell of lowe valleyes plaine wayes and easy for euery man to vse to walke in as also of high hylles mountaynes god leueth no maÌ„ vntaught that hath a good wyll to knoâ—e his worde which fewe men can clymbe vnto And whosoeuer geueth his mynde to holy scriptures with diligent studye burnynge desire it can not be saith S. Iohn Chrisostom that he shoulde be left without helpe For eyther God almighty wyl sende him some godly doctor to teache him as he dyd to instructe Eunuchus a noble man of Ethâ—ope and treasorer vnto Quene Candace who hauinge a greate affection to reade the scripture although he vnderstode it not yet for the desire that he had vnto Gods word God sent his Apostle Philip to declare vnto him the true sence of the scripture that he read or els it we lacke a learned maÌ„ to instruct teache vs yet God him selfe from aboue wyl giue light vnto our wyndes teach vs those thinges which are necessary for vs wherin we be ignoraunt â—â—owâ— the knowledge of scriptur may be atâ—â—â—ed vnâ—â— And in an other place Chrisostome saith that mans humaine worldly wisdome or science nedeth not to the vnderstandyng of scripture but the reuelacion of the holy ghost who inspireth the true meaning vnto them that with humilitie diligence do searche therfore He that asketh shal haue Math. vii he that seketh shan fynd he that knocketh shall haue the doore open If we reade once twise or thrise vnderstande not let vs not sease so but styll continue readynge praying askyng of other so by styl knockyng at the last the doore shal be opened as S. Augustine sayth a good rule for the vnderstâ—â—dyng of scripture â–ª Although many thynges in the scripture be spokeÌ„ in obscure misteries yet there is nothing spoken vnder dark misteries in one place but the selfe same thyng in other places is spoken more familiarely and playnely to the capacitie both of learned and vnlâ—â—â—ned And those thynges in the scripture that be playne to vnderstande No 〈…〉
¶ Certayne Sermons appoynted by the Quenes Maiestie to be declared and read by all Persones Vycars and Curates euery Sonday and holy daye in theyr Churches And by her Graces aduyse perused ouersene for the better vnderstandyng of the simple people Newly Imprynted in partes accordyng as is mencioned in the booke of Commune prayers Anno. M.D.L .ix. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis OMNIA DESVPER R.I. ¶ A taâ—â—e of the Sermons conteyned in this present volume i A Fruitefull exhortacion to the readyng of holy scripture ii Of the misery of al mankynd iii Of the saluacion of all mankynde iiii Of the true and lyuely fayth v Of good workes vi Of Christian loue and charitie vii Agaynst swearyng and periury viii Of the declynyng from god ix An exhortacion agaynst the feare of death x An exhortacion to obedience xi Agaynst whordome and adulterye xii Agaynst strife and contention Finis tabulae COnsydering howe necessary it is that the worde of GOD which is the onely foode of the soule and that moste excellent lyght that we muste walke by in this our moste daungerous pilgrimage should at all conuenient tymes be preached vnto the people that therby they may bothe learne theyr duetie towardes God theyr Prynce and theyr neighbours accordyng to the mynde of the holy ghoste expressed in the scriptures And also to auoyde the manifolde enormities whiche hearetofore by false doctrine haue crepte into the Churche of God and howe that all they whiche are appoynted ministers haue not the gyft of prechyng sufficiently to instruct the people which is commytted vnto them whereof great inconueniences myght ryse and ignoraunce styll be mayntayned yf some honeste remedye be not speedely founde and prouyded The Quenes moste excellent Maiestie tenderynge the foule health of her louyng subiectes and the quietynge of theyr consciences in the chiefe and pryncypall poyntes of Christian Religion and wyllyng also by the true settyng foorth and pure declaryng of Gods word which is the principall guyde and leader vnto all godlynesse and vertue to expell and dryue aware aswell all corrupt vicious and vngodly lyuynâ— as also erronious and poysoned doctrines tâ—â—â—dyng to superfficion and Idolatry hath by thâ—â—uyse of her moste honourable comisâ—â—◠〈…〉 her discharge in this behalfe caused a 〈…〉 â—â—melies which heretofore was sette 〈…〉 moste louynge Brother a Prince of moste worthy memorye Edward the syxt to be prynted a newe wherein are conteyned certaine wholsome and godly exhortacions to moue the people to honour and worshyppe almyghty God and diligently to serue hym euery one accordynge to theyr degree state and vocation All whiche Homelies her Maiestie commaundeth and strayghtly chargeth all persons vycars curates and all other hauyng spirituall cure euery Sonday and holy day in the yere at the ministryng of the holy communion or if there be no Communion ministred that day yet after the Gospell and Crede in suche order and place as is appoynted in the booke of Common prayers to reade and declare to theyr paryshyoners playnely and distinctly one of the sayde Homelies in such order as they stande in the booke except there be a Sermon according as it is inioyned in the boke of her hyghnesse Iniunctions and then for that cause onely and for none other the readyng of the sayde Homelye to be differred vnto the next Sonday or holy day folowyng And wheÌ„ the foresayde booke of Homelies is read ouer her Maiesties pleasure is that the same be repeated and read agayne in such lyke sort as was before prescrybed Furthermore her hyghnesse coÌ„maundeth that notwithstandynge this order the sayde Ecclesiasticall persons shall reade her Maiesties Iniunctions at such tymes and in suche order as is in the booke thereof appoynted And that the Lordes prayer the Articles of the fayth and the ten commaundementes be openly readde vnto the people as in the sayde Iniunctions is specified that all her people of what degree or condicion so euer they be maye learne howe to Inuocate and call vpon the name of Godde knowe what duetie they owe both to God man So that they maye pray belieue and worke accordyng to knowledge whyle they shall lyue heare and after this lyfe be with him that with his bloud hath bought vs all To whom with the Father and the holy ghost be al honor and glory for euer AMEN 〈…〉 the â—eadyng and knowledge of holy Scripture The prais of holye scripture VNto a Christian man there can be nothyng eyther more necessary or profitable then the knowledge of holy scripture forasmuch as in it is conteyned Gods true word setting foorth his glory also mans duetie And there is no trueth nor doctrine necessary for our iustification The perfiction of holy scripture and euerlastyng saluation but that is or may be drawen out of that fountaine and wel of trueth Therfore as manye as be desyrous to enter into the ryght and perfect way vnto God The knowledge of holy scripture is necessary must apply theyr myndes to knowe holy scripture without the whiche they can neyther sufficiently knowe God and his wyll To whom the knowledge of holy scripture is swete and pleasaunt Who be enemies to holy scripture neyther theyr office duetie And as drynke is pleasaunt to them that be drye and meate to them that be hungry so is the readyng hearyng searchyng and studying of holy scripture to them that be desirous to knowe God or them selues to do his wyll And theyr stomackes onely do loth and abhorre the heauenly knowledge and foode of Gods worde that be so drowned in worldly vanities that they neyther fauour God nor any godlynesse For that is the cause why they desyre such vanities In apt similitude declarinâ— of whom the scripture is oâ—horrid rather then the true knowledge of God As they that are sicke of an ague whatsoeuer thei eate or drynke though it be neuer so pleasaunte yet it is as bytter to them as wormewood not for the bytternesse of the meate but for the corrupte 〈◊〉 â—ytter humour that is in theyr owne tongue â—â—â—nduth than so is the swetenesse of Gods worde bitter not of it selfe but onely vnto theÌ„ that haue theyr myndes corrupted with longe custome of sinne and loue of this worlde Therfore An â—â—â—â—tucion vnto the diligent redâ—â—dyng and scâ—rchâ—ng â—f the holy 〈…〉 forsaking the corrupt iudgement of fleshely men which care not but for theyr carhasse let vs reuerently heare and reade holye scriptures whiche is the foode of the soule Let vs diligently search for the well of lyfe in the bokes of the newe and olde Testament and not runne to the stynkyng puddels of mennes tradicions deuysed by mans imaginacion for our iustification and saluacion The holy scripture is a suffiâ—â—ent doctrâ—ne for ouâ— saluation What thynges we may learne 〈◊〉 the holy scriptâ—â—â— For in holy scripture is fully conteined what we ought to do and what to eschewe what to beleue what to loue what to loke for at
excepted from the knowledge of goddâ—â— wâ—ll and necessary for saluacioÌ„ euery mans duerie is to learn them to prynt them in memory and effectuallye to exercise them And as for the darke misteries to be contented to be ignoraunt in them vntyll such tyme as it shall please God to open those thynges vnto hym In the meane season yf he lacke eyther aptnes or oportunitie God wyll not impute it to his folly but yet it behoueth not that such as be apt shoulde set asyde readyng because some other be vnapt to reade neuerthelesse â–ª for the hardenes of such places What persons wold haue ignorance to continue the reading of the whole ought not to be set aparte And briefely to conclude as S. Augustine saith by the scripture all men be amended weake men be strengthened and stronge men be comforted So that surelye none be enemies to the readynge of Gods worde but such as either be so ignorauÌ„t that they know not how wholsome a thing it is or els be so sicke The holye Scripture is one of â—odâ— chief benefitâ—â— that they hate the most coÌ„fortable medicine that should heale them or so vngodly that they would wishe the people styll to continue in blyndenesse and ignoraunce of God Thus we â—aue briefly â—â—â—â—ded sâ—me part of the commoditieâ— of Gods hoâ—y worde wâ—â—ch is one of Gods chiefe and principall benefites â—euen 〈◊〉 declared to mankind here in earth Let vs thâ—nâ—e God heartely for this his great and speciall 〈◊〉 beneficiall â—auour and fatherly prouidence Let vs be glad to reuiue this precious gyft of our heauenly father Let vs heare reade and know these holy rules The right reâ—dynge vse fruit full studiâ—ng in holye scrypture Psal 1. iniunctions and stâ—â—â—utes of our Christen religion vpon that we haue made profession to God at our baptisme Let vs with feare reuerence lay vp in the chest of our heartes these necessary and fruitfull lâ—ssons Let vs night day muse haue meditacion and contemplacion in them Let vs ruminate and as it were chew the â—udde that we may haue the â—wete â—eâ—se spirituall effect mary hony kyrnell taste comfort consolation of them Let vs stay quiete and certifie our consciences with the most infallyble certaintie trueth and perpetual assuraunce of them Let vs pray to God the only aâ—â—cthour of these heaueÌ„ly studies that we may speake thinke beleue liue and depart hence according to the wholsome doctrine verities of them And by that meanes in this worlde we shall haue Gods defence fauour grace with the vnspeakeable solace of peace and â—uâ—etnes of conscience â–ª after this miserable lifâ—â— we shall enioye the endles blisse and glory of heâ—uen â–ª which he graunt vs all that dyed for vs all Iesus Christ â–ª to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all honour and glory â—â—th nowe and euerlastyngly Ame◠¶ 〈…〉 kynde and of his condeâ—â—â—â—â—tâ— to death euerlastyng by his owne synne THe holy Ghost in writyng the holy scripture is in nothinge more dilygent then to put down mans vaine glory and pride whiche of all vyces is moste vniuersally grafted in all mankind euen froÌ„ the first infectioÌ„ of our firste father Adam And therfore we reade in many places of scripture many notable lessons against this olde roted vice to teache vs the moste commendable vertue of humilitie how to knowe our selues to remembre what we be of our selues In the boke of Genesis Gene. 〈◊〉 almighty god geueth vs all a title name in our great graunde father Adam whiche ought to warne vs all to consyder what we be wherof we be from whence we came whether we shal sayinge thus in the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate thy bread til thou be turned again into the ground for out of it wast thou taken in asmuch as thou art dust into dust shalt thou be turned again Here as it were in a glasse we maye learne to knowe oure selues to bee but grossd yearth asshes that to earth and asshes we shall returne Also the holy patriarche Abraham dyd wel remember this name title dust earth and asshes appoynted and assigned by God to all 〈◊〉 and therfore he calleth hymselfe by tha◠〈…〉 when he maketh his earnest prayer for 〈…〉 â—omâ—â—re And we reade 〈…〉 that Iudith 〈…〉 Hieâ—â—â—is with other holy 〈…〉 did vse sacke 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 vppon theyr 〈…〉 led their sinfull lyuyng They called and tryed to God for help and mercy with such a ceremonie of sacke cloth dust asshes that thereby they might declare to the whole world what an humble and lowely estimacion they had of them selues how well they remembred theyr name and tylle aforesayde theyr vyle corrupt frayle nature dust earth and asshes The boke of wisdome also wylling to pull downe our proude stomakes â—ay vii moueth vs diligently to remember our mortal and earthly generacion which we haue all of hym that was fyrste made that all men aswell kynges as subiectes come into this worlde and go out of the same in lyke sort that is as of our selues ful miserable as we may dayly see And almighty God coÌ„maunded his Prophet Esai Esai xl to make a proclamacion crye to the whole worlde and Esai asking what shal I crye The Lorde aunswered crye that all fleshe is grasse that all the glorye thereof is but as the floure of the field when the grasse is withered the floure falleth away when the wynd of the Lorde bloweth vpoÌ„ it The people surely is grasse the whiche drieth vy the floure fadeth away And the holy Prophet Iob hauing in him selfe great experience of the miserable sinfull estate of man doeth open the same to the worlde in these wordes Man saith he that is borne of a woman lyuyng but a short tyme Iob. xiiii is full of manifolde miseries he springeth vp lyke a floure fadeth agayne vanyshyng away as it were a shadow neuer continuâ—â—◠〈◊〉 one state And doest thou iudge it meete O 〈…〉 thine eyes vpoÌ„ such a one to bryng 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—ment with the Who can make hym cleane that is conceiued oâ—â—n vncleane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of theyr euilnes naturall prones be so vniuersally geueÌ„ to sinne that as the scripture saith God repeted that euer he made man Ge. v. vâ—â— And by sinne his indignacâ—â— was so much prouoked against the world that he drowned all the worlde with Noes flud except Noe him selfe his little houshold It is not without greate cause that the scripture of God doth so many tymes call all men here in this world by this word earth O thou earth earth earth saith Ieremy heare the word of the Lorde Iere. xiiii This our right name callyng title earth earth earth pronounced by the Prophet sheweth what we be in dede by whatsoeuer other style tytle or dignitie men do call vs. Thus he plainely named vs who knoweth
preuented with sodaine death neuerthelesse he shal be there where he shal be refreshed Of Abrahams bosome Chrystes wordes be so playne that a christian man nedeth no more profe of it Nowe then if this were the state of the holye fathers and righteous men before the commyng of our sauiour before he was glorified how much more then ought all we to haue a stedfast faith a sure hope of this blessed state and condicion after our death Seing that our sauiour nowe hath perfourmed the whole worke of our redemption and is gloriouslye ascended into heauen to prepare our dwellyng places with hym Ioh. xvii and sayd vnto his father Father I wyll that where I am my seruauntes shal be with me And we knowe that whatsoeuer Christ wyll his father wyll the same wherefore it cannot be but if we be his faithful sernauntes oure soules shal be with him after our departing out of this present life Sainct Stephin when he was stoned to death euen in the middest of his tormentes what was his minde moste vpon When he was ful of the holy gost Acâ—â—â— vâ—â— saieth holy scripture hauing his eies lifted vp into heauen he sawe the glory of god and Iesus standinge on the righte hande of god The whiche trueth after he had confessed boldly before the enemies of Christ they drew him out of the citie and there they stoned him who cried vnto God sayinge Lorde Iesu Christe take my spirite And doeth not our sauiour say playnly in S. Iohns gospel Verely verely I say vnto you he that heareth my worde and beleueth on him that seÌ„t me hath euerlasting life cummeth not into iudgement Iohn .v. but shal passe from death to life Shal we not then thinke that death to be precious by the whiche we passe vnto life Therefore it is a true saying of the Prophete the death of the holy and righteous men 〈◊〉 cxvi is precious in the lordes sight Holy Simeon after that he had his heartes desier in seing our sauiour that he euer longed for al his life he embraced or toke him in his armes and said Now lord let me departe in peace Luke â—â— for mine eies haue beholden that sauiour whiche thou hast prepared for al nacions It is trueth therfore that the death of the righteous is called peace and the benefite of the Lord Psal cxiiii as the churche saieth in the name of the righteous departed out of this world my soule turne thee to chyreste for the Lorde hath bene good to thee and rewarded thee And we see by holye scripture other auncient Histories of Martirs that the holy faithful and righteous euer sins Christes ascencion or going vp in their death did not doubt but that they went to be with Christ in spirite whiche is our lyfe health wealth saluacion Iohn in his holy reuelacion saw an C. xl and .iiii. M. virgins innocentes of whom he sayd Epo xiiii these folowe the laÌ„be Iesu Christe whersoeuer he goeth And shortely after in the same place he saieth I heard a voice from heauen saying vnto me write happy and blessed ar the dead which die in the lord from henceforth surely saieth the spirite thei shal rest from their paines and labours for their workes doe folowe them So that then they shal reape with ioy and comfort that which they sowed with labors and paynes They that sow in the spirite of the spirite shal reape euerlasting life Let vs therfore neuer be werye of well doing for when the time of reaping or reward commeth we shal reape without any werines euerlastinge ioye â—ola vi Math. vi Therefore while we haue time as S. Paule exhorteth vs let vs doe good to all men and nor laye vp our treasures in earth where ruste and mothes corrupt it Iames .v. which rust as S. Iames sayeth shall beare witnesse agaynst vs at the great day coÌ„demie vs and shall like moste brenninge fier tormente our fleshe Let vs beware therfore as we teÌ„der our owne wealth that we be not in the number of those miserable couetousse and wretched menne whiche S. Iames byddeth mourne and lament for theyr gredye gatherynge and vngodlye kepynge of goodes Lette vs be wyfe in tyme and learne to folowe the wyse example of the wicked stewach Let vs so wisely order our goodes and possessions committed vnto vs here by god for a season that we may truely heare and obeye thys commaundemente of our sauioure Chryste I saye vnto you sayeth he make you frendes of the wicked Mammon Luke xvi that they may receiue you into euerlastinge tabernacles or dwellynges Richesse he calleth wicked beecause the world abuseth them vnto al wickednes which at otherwise the good gifte of God the instrumentes wherby goddes seruauantes doe truely serue hym in vsing of the same He commaunded theÌ„ not to make them riche frendes to gette highe dignities and worldly promotions to geue greate giftes to ryche men that haue no nede therof but to make them freÌ„des of poore and miserable men vnto whom whatsoeuer they geue Chryst taketh it as geuen to himselfe And to these freÌ„des Christ in the gospel geueth so great honor and preeminence that he sayeth they shall receyue them that doe good vnto them into euerlasting houses not that meÌ„ shal be ourrewarders for our wel doyng but that Chryst wil rewarde vs and take it to be doen vnto himselfe whatsoeuer is doen to suche frendes Thus makyng poore wretches our frendes we make oure sauioure Chryste oure frende whose meÌ„bers they are whose miserye as he taketh for hys owne myserye so theyr relyefe succoure and helpe he taketh for hys succoure relyefe and helpe and wyll asmuche thanke vs and rewarde vs for oure goodnes shewed to them as if he himselfe had receiued lyke benefyte at oure handes as be wytnesseth in the gospel 〈◊〉 xxv saying whatsoeuerye haue doeÌ„ to any of these simple persons whiche dooe beleue in me that haue ye doen to my self Therfore let vs diligently foresee that oure faith and hope whiche we haue conceiued in almightie god and in our sauiour Christ waxe not fainte nor that the loue whiche we beare in hande to beare to him waxe not colde but let vs study daily and diligently to shew oure selues to be the true honourers louers of god by kepinge of his commaundementes by doing of good dedes vnto our nedy neighbours releuing by all meanes that we can their pouertie with oure aboundaunce and plenty their ignoraunce with our wisedom and learning and comforte their v eakenes wyth oure strength aucthoritie calling all men backe froÌ„ euill doing by godlye counsaile and good exaÌ„ple perseuering still in well doing so long as we lyue So shall we not nede to feare death for any of those thre causes afore meÌ„cioned nor yet for any other cause that can be imagined But contrary considering the manifold sickenesses troubles and sorowes of this present life the daungers of this